The Odyssey - Book 24 - Peace

• 30 minutes
• The suitors are brought to the underworld.

• Agamemnon and Achilles compare their fates. Agamemnon's at first seemed better because he was the lord of men. but now "sub specie aeternitatis" (from the point of view of eternity), Achilles' is preferable because his death was the most noble while Agamemnon's was ignoble. The dead suitor Amphimedon then tells the story of Odysseus, and, although he does not say it, Odysseus's fate seems more favored than Agamemnon's because Odysseus comes home to a loving wife and not to a murderous one. Odysseus's fate is even more favored than Achilles' because Odysseus returns home alive. (130-140) Although this scene in the underworld at first glance seems merely to repeat what we already know, can you think of what its artistic purpose might be? [Discuss Ody Bk24 Q01]

• Odysseus tests his father.

• As always, Odysseus resists his impulse to reveal himself to his father. Odysseus's keynote throughout has been to keep his emotions in check at first in order to learn (Dimock 328). Although there is no need because of the plot to continue hiding his identity, why do you think he hides his identity for a while from his father? [Discuss Ody Bk24 Q02]

The question of vengeance by the suitors' kinsmen (456-).

• Antinous's father mounts an attack on Odysseus, despite the warnings of the bard and herald.After a surprise killing by Laertes, Athena aborts the war.Why do you think the epic ends this way? [Discuss Ody Bk24 Q03]